Movie Reviews Only

The performances hit the right notes, with the two leads especially good as differently troubled men whose moody silences carry a good deal of sombre weight and whose fragile relationship gives the film a much-needed sense of intensity. - Screen InternationalEDIT

Balancing magical realism with wistful drama, this tender film is given heart and soul thanks to the lead performances by Salma Samy and Menha Batraoui whose supportive friendship leads them on thoughtful journey. - Screen InternationalEDIT

Burnout veers from loneliness and misery to hope and redemption, and while tinged with a streak of sentimentality it feels a very modern film reflecting a society at odds with itself. - Screen InternationalEDIT

The film's real energy comes from the rougher hewed scenes of the tough-talking class bickering and fighting, with a sense of documentary-realism sitting nicely with the more genial story of a glum violin teacher explaining the joys of classical music. - Screen InternationalEDIT

While blessed with an impressive double act in the form of Juliette Binoche and Rinko Kikuchi it never quite settles on enough intensity to carry its almost two hour running time. - Screen InternationalEDIT

Writer/director Michael Connors creates a good sense of atmosphere and clearly knows his way around the military milieu, but never manages instill the film with a much-needed sense of dramatic tension despite a solid enough story structure. - Screen InternationalEDIT

While lacking a grippingly sharp edge -- it heads into strange and violent territory but is never overly comfortable there -- it is always intriguing and defiantly left-field. - Screen InternationalEDIT

Maria Gamboa's impressive debut feature, which had its world premiere at the Miami International Film Festival, tackles an old-fashioned -- good against evil -- with a whole lot of style - Screen InternationalEDIT

Peter Bogdanovich's love letter to the type of freewheeling sex comedy that was staple Hollywood fare in years gone by is a real pleasure, blessed with a series of smart and knowing performances and driven by a frothy sense of mainstream fun. - Screen InternationalEDIT

A visual and poetical treat that delves into lives, issues and traumas of residents of the grim (but oddly beautiful through Costa's camera) Lisbon neighbourhood of Fontainhas. - Screen InternationalEDIT

Robot Overlords is an engaging action romp that moves at a nice pace but eventually gets rather let down by effects efforts that are compromised by the film's low-budget origins. - Screen InternationalEDIT

While there are times when it almost sinks under the weight of its sense of dark anger and depression, it is Leeshon Alexander fine performance that keeps it from sinking under. - Screen InternationalEDIT

A lush cross-cultural romance all set against the dreamy backdrop of Manhattan, writer/director Victor Lewin's rather old-fashioned but generously witty film ticks all of the right boxes when it comes to its literary tale of an unlikely romance. - Screen InternationalEDIT

Erlingsson makes wonderful use of the striking landscape as he weaves together a series of interlinking stories which veers from darkly amusing tales of death and sex through to more disturbing fare. - Screen InternationalEDIT

Visually arresting and brutally slick, writer-director Gerard Johnson's second feature Hyena is a tough crime thriller that, while it may not be for the faint-hearted, is made with control and real skill. - Screen InternationalEDIT

A gloomy and self-consciously bleak and cold drama, Bluebird is driven by a series of strong performances that give the modest and inhospitable drama it might otherwise lack. - Screen InternationalEDIT

A tense and exciting action-drama about a young British soldier caught out of his depth on the mean streets of Belfast in Northern Ireland in the early years of the Troubles. - Screen InternationalEDIT

Don't be put off with all of the mentions of violence. Yes, bloodletting is at the core of the movie, and the ending is as downbeat as the opening scenes. But, gosh, you know you have been to see a great film. - Daily Mirror (UK)EDIT